“Let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” Rainer Maria Rilke

2025 was a milestone year in my creative life as I celebrated my 70^th birthday in July. There were several concerts planned throughout the year to mark the anniversary and I would like to take a moment to look back on some of the highlights of this memorable year.

2025 certainly ended with a flourish and a great surprise, when I opened the Spectator to find that Simon Heffer had written a column for an article entitled, ‘What is the greatest art work of the century so far?’ The twenty-five contributors covered a spectrum of artistic achievements that included; literature, architecture, art, music and films. From out of these different art forms, Simon Heffer chose my Requiem. It was a an amazing tribute from a brilliant writer and author whom I admire greatly.

“To me the finest artistic achievement of the century so far in the Requiem, Opus 48, by Ian Venables.” 

“In selecting Venable’s Requiem I believe I have chosen a work that will live on and grow in popularity: I struggle to think of many other works of art or literature of the last quarter century for which one can say the same.”  

A 70th Birthday Concert at The Temple Church 

There was a stellar line up of artists for this  concert on the 4th November of music by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Herbert Howells that included a performance of my chamber song cycle, Portraits of a Mind Op. 54 and featured the London premiere of Out of the Shadows Op.55 –  a Song cycle commissioned by Robert Venables KC and Gary Morris, and who generously sponsored this concert. The soloists Gwilym Bowen, in Portraits of a Mind and Gareth Brynmor John in Out of the shadows were  outstanding and both cycles were performed to perfection by the Navarra String quartet and pianist William Vann. For me, this was one of the finest concerts of my music I can remember and one I found deeply moving. 

The concert was reviewed by Richard Whitehouse for arcana.fm  and Robert Hugill. Please click on the link to read their review.

The Gramophone – Contemporary Composer Feature

At 70, this British composer is at the peak of his powers, writes Richard Whitehouse 

  The September 2025, edition of the Gramophone magazine featured an ‘in depth’ survey of my music. In reference to my song writing, Whitehouse wrote

“whether in terms of his revivifying of a tradition that might have become moribund, or his drawing attention to authors whose poetry has been overlooked or, moreover, taken for granted as regards musical setting. The outcome is a corpus of songs and song-cycles that is second to none among those for whom the English language is a source of never-ending but often unexpected possibilities.”

For the full review please Click the following link: 

The Elgar Festival

It was a real privilege to be  ‘Composer in Residence’ for the 2025, Elgar Festival.

During a week of wonderful music making I was involved in several activities and I particularly enjoyed working with a group of young singers in a Masterclass session with the soprano April Fredrick.  Another highlight was the showing of the documentary film,  ‘Hidden Music’ directed by Anthony Cheng.

“Based on interviews with the composer, leading musicians and performers, the documentary presents an intimate portrait of his life and development as a composer of art-song, chamber and choral music”

The screening was preceded by a performance of my Three Pieces for Violin Op.11 given by violinist Shuwei Zuo and pianist Jiayi Chen, and  followed by a Q and A session, hosted by Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes.

The festival a song recital was given by the renowned soprano April Fredrick, and acclaimed pianist and composer, Eric McElroy. This recital  bridged the Atlantic with an inspired blend of British, American, and Anglo-American composers  and featured my song cycle Love’s Voice Op.22.

Considered by many, myself included, to be one the greatest organists of modern times, David Briggs gave a compelling account of his masterly transcription of Elgar’s First Symphony. His recital included a splendid performance of my  Rhapsody Op.25 

The festival’s Gala concert with the English Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Kenneth Woods, featured a magnificent performance of the orchestral premiere of Out of the Shadows Op.55 sung exquisitely by Gareth Brynmor John. This was a truly unforgettable evening.

 The final recital of the festival on Sunday 1^st June is given by one of the UK’s most distinguished recording artists. “Wallfisch and renowned pianist Simon Callaghan presented a programme of lyrical music for ‘cello that brought together the three composers at the heart of this year’s festival, John Ireland, Ian Venables and Edward Elgar.” Their recital will included a beautifully nuanced performance of my early Elegy Op.2 and a transcription of  my song At Malvern Op.24a

 

   

 

 

 ‘The Wreaths of Time’ – US Premiere

One of the most exciting events of 2025 was my trip in March to the US to hear the 1st performance of my song cycle The Wreaths of Time Op.57. 

The cycle, was commissioned by the acclaimed American singer Brian Thorsett, in collaboration with the Dante Quartet; one of the UK’s most celebrated string quartets. Based upon several texts by American poets the  work explored some of the key moments in US political and social history. The cycle was given a  superlative  performance at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. 

In February, the incredibly talented duo Rachel Roper (mezzo-soprano) and Claire Habbershaw (pianist) gave a magical recital, entitled ‘The Truth About Love’ at the Bishop’s Palace in Hereford. Their recital included a performance of The Pine Boughs Past Music Op.39; a song cycle set to texts by Ivor Gurney.

Also in February, The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire hosted a two-day celebration of British Music. ‘The best of British’ showcased some of the major keyboard and instrumental works by Herbert Howells, John Joubert, John Ireland, Frank Bridge, Ralph Vaughan Williams.  I was delighted to be included in such distinguished company and to hear an outstanding performance with Chu-Yu-Yang and Eric McElroy of my Three Pieces for Violin and Piano Op.11 and a  magisterial  account of my Piano Quintet Op.27 with pianist Mark Bebbington, Roberto Ruisi (violin), Nicholas Trygstad (‘cello) and two student string players from RBC.

2025 opened with the award-winning young conductor, Matthew Lynch leading the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, at the Barbican in programme of music by Britten and Holst and the first performance of my Venetian Songs Op.22, sung by the tenor, Alessandro Fisher in a newly orchestrated arrangement by Matthew Lynch. 

 

 Violin Sonata – Premiere CD Recording on SOMM

 

“Chu‑Yu Yang and Eric McElroy make fine advocates for this appealing music, as they do the whole programme” Gramophone 

 

 

 

The talent young Taiwanese violinist, Chu-Yu Yang, and award-winning pianist, Eric McElroy have recorded my early Violin Sonata Op. 23 along with my Three Short Pieces Op.11.     

 

 

 

This premiere recording on the prestigious SOMM label also includes Arthur Bliss’s Violin Sonata and several premieres by Ivor Gurney.

The CD was released in April 2025 on the SOMM Recording Label. Please click here for further details 

 My Composer Youtube Channel

In 2025, my composer Youtube channel was launched devoted to archival video performances of my music. The most current of these is the US premiere of my Walt Whitman song cycle The Last Invocation Op.50  performed by Brian Thorsett (tenor) and pianist Kevin Korth at the SFCM on the 26^th October 2024. The documentary film ‘Hidden Music’ has now been uploaded to the channel (see below)   

For Ian Venables’s Youtube channel please  CLICK the following link: 

https://www.youtube.com/@IanVenablescomposer

Ian Venables – ‘Hidden Music’ – A New Documentary Film 

“Based on interviews with the composer, leading musicians and performers, the documentary presents an intimate portrait of his life and development as a composer of art-song, chamber and choral music”

If you would like FREE copy of the DVD please  send a request via email at CONTACT ME on the home page.

There is a small charge of £5 for postage and packing.

Please send a cheque to Turrall House, 2 Turrall Street, Worcester WR3 8AJ.        

 

 

 

 Publications

 ALBION’S GLORY

A Celebration of Twentieth Century English Composers By Stephen H. Smith

 5* “Brilliant compendium of 20th century English composer biographies”

“This superbly written book collects all the main English composers of the 20th century and provides a brilliant overview of their works and careers in music. None of the usual overly academic style of prose, just plain, easily understood text which is very readable and digestible. I shall use this book frequently in finding out about the lesser-known composers who have mainly been forgotten, but it also provides instant access to the facts about the 10 best English composers and a shorter resume of ‘the best of the rest’. This is the most instantly accessible book about English classical music I have read in a very long time. An excellent volume. Highly recommended”

For more information please click the following link:

 https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Albions-Glory-by-Stephen-H-Smith/9781800465435